A committee of the Scientific Society went up to Readestown to take a look at the new airship.
Frank Reade, Jr., was always pleased to show his inventions. He led the company into a vast high-trussed building.
There, upon the stocks, was the wonderful airship.
She was just undergoing proper fitting out for the long trip. Two men of rather peculiar appearance were working upon her.
One was an Irishman with a shock of red hair and a broad mug. The other was a darky, black as ebony, and jolly as a genial Dutchman.
One was known as Barney O’Shea and the other as Pomp.
They had been in the employ of Frank Reade, Jr., for many years and were much devoted to him.
The airship as revealed to the visitors was indeed a wonderful machine.
In shape it was long and narrow, and built after the lines of a mackerel. The hull was of thinly rolled platinum, coated with bullet proof steel.
The shell thus formed could easily be lifted by four men, despite its huge proportions.